Flintshire's next stop will likely be Saratoga

ELMONT, N.Y. _ If everything remains the same, Flintshire will likely make two starts this summer in Saratoga beginning with the Grade 2 $250,000 Bowling Green on July 30, trainer Chad Brown said Sunday.

The Bowling Green would be used as a prep for the Grade 1 $1 million Sword Dancer _ a race Flintshire won last year _ on Aug. 27.

“That’s where I'm leaning, if everything is equal; run this horse twice at Saratoga,” said Brown, who trains Flintshire for Juddmonte Farms.

Flintshire, who won the Grade 1 Manhattan on Belmont Stakes Day in his first start for Brown, worked four furlongs in 48.58 seconds Sunday morning over the Belmont turf course. He went in company with Takeover Target, who is possible for the Arlington Million. The two got their final quarter in 23.40 seconds.

“He’s a pleasure to watch not only in the afternoon, but in the morning,” Brown said.

Brown worked 10 horses on the turf Sunday morning, including Lady Eli, who went four furlongs in 49.35 seconds in company with Grey Stark. It was Lady Eli’s second turf work since resuming training following a tendon issue earlier this year. Lady Eli is also trying to make it back from a bout with laminitis suffered last summer.

Brown called Sunday’s work for Lady Eli “a big step forward ... I thought it was a good work. She should build off that.”

Brown said Lady Eli would have one more work at Belmont next weekend before shipping to Saratoga. Her return is still to be determined, but Brown previously mentioned races such as the De La Rose on Aug. 6, or the Ballston Spa on Aug. 27 as races to which she would be nominated.

Also on the work tab Sunday for Brown were Elysea’s World and Ancient Secret, who went five furlongs in 1:02.65 in company. They are both being pointed to the Grade 2 $200,000 Lake George on the July 22nd opening-day card at Saratoga.

Wekeela, second in the Grade 1 Gamely last out, worked five furlongs in company with Sheepshead Bay winner and New York Stakes runner-up Sea Calisi. They went in 1:02.77, with a final quarter in 23.43 seconds. Wekeela is pointing to the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga on July 23; Sea Calisi is being trained up to the Beverly D at Arlington on Aug. 13.

Mrs. McDougal, third in the Grade 1 Just a Game, worked five furlongs in 1:02.45 Sunday in preparation for the Diana. Brown is also pointing Dacita and Rainha da Bateria to the Diana, giving him four potential starters in that race. Both are training in Saratoga.